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Algal Biofuels: Clean Energy to Combat the Climate Change

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Basic Research Advancement for Algal Biofuels Production

Part of the book series: Clean Energy Production Technologies ((CEPT))

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Abstract

Algal biofuels are an indispensable tool for combating climate change as they are the clean sources of energy prevalent in nature and recognized as third-generation biofuels. The different types of algae are renewable sources of energy that can be cultured at low cost as compared to first- and second-generation crops and thus reducing the pressure on agricultural and water land use. The biomass production of algae has been increased up to 32.67 million tonnes worldwide. The algae have maximum light use efficiency and produce 2–15 folds higher lipids in comparison to other oilseed crops, viz. soybean and rapeseed. Oil-producing algae are 100–200 times greater than soybean. The production of oil yield from soybean was 446 L ha−1 when grown on 594 mha area while microalgae produce 136,900 L ha−1 oil on 2 mha land area. Algae biomass production is helpful to minimize the pollutants and heavy metals such as ammonium nitrates and phosphates from wastewater and soil. According to IPCC climate change is real and happening around the world. The concentration of carbon dioxide was 415 ppm in 2020 has been increased by 44% from 278 ppm in 1960. The cellulosic and algal biofuel production would be important biological approaches to store and convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into bioenergy resources in the coming future. On a large scale, basis microalgae have the potential to entirely replace petrodiesel with biodiesel. The production of bioenergy resources from microalgae have the ability to lower the amount of GHG emissions by 4–5%. The production technology of algal biofuels is still somewhat new and extravagant. The chapter attempted to comprehend the role of algal biofuels in the bioenergy sector, and how they can play a crucial role in combatting climate change.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Dr Y S P UHF, Solan, HP, India

    Purnima Mehta, Kartikey Sahil, M. S. Jangra & S. K. Bhardwaj

  2. PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

    Loveleen Kaur Sarao

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  1. Purnima Mehta
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  2. Kartikey Sahil
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  3. Loveleen Kaur Sarao
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  4. M. S. Jangra
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  5. S. K. Bhardwaj
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Neha Srivastava

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    P.K. Mishra

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Mehta, P., Sahil, K., Sarao, L.K., Jangra, M.S., Bhardwaj, S.K. (2023). Algal Biofuels: Clean Energy to Combat the Climate Change. In: Srivastava, N., Mishra, P. (eds) Basic Research Advancement for Algal Biofuels Production. Clean Energy Production Technologies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6810-5_7

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